The Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma will fight the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York's bid to disbar the Seneca-Cayugas from pursuing trust land in New York, promises Paul Spicer, the tribe's chief.
“They can ask all they want,” Spicer said. “I don't think it would ever get past the Department of Interior.”
He says it's an impossible deal because of treaty rights. “We would be the spoiler,” Spicer said.
But Cayugas have an ally in the state with their intention.
“We indicated support for the provision that precludes the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma securing lands into trust,” said Christine Pritchard, a spokeswoman for Gov. Eliot Spitzer
“What the Seneca-Cayugas get is nothing,” said Dan French, an attorney representing the Cayugas.
The Cayugas and the Seneca-Cayugas were partners in the land claim, but they have been on opposite sides of other litigation. The Cayugas came out against the Seneca-Cayugas' pitch last summer to site a casino in Auburn.
In November 2004, Clint Halftown said in a letter to Gov. George Pataki withdrawing from a settlement agreement in exchange for a Catskills casino: “While the Cayuga Nation is anxious to settle its 204-year-old illegal taking of land issue with New York state, it is unwilling to do so if out-of-state tribes are allowed a presence in New York.”
Auburn Mayor Tim Lattimore has spoken positively of the proposed settlement with the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York because of the possibility of settling a long-simmering issue and to bring lucrative gaming to the area. But he remains supportive of the Seneca-Cayugas, who would like to open a casino in Auburn.
“I hate to see bureaucrats or people in government debate how many angels can dance on a pin. This thing has to be resolved,” Lattimore said. “There's some disagreement with the Oklahomas being an in-state tribe but the only one who can establish a land claim area and the only one who can extinguish is Congress. I think Mr. (Charles) Schumer, our senator, would love to see this thing resolved. I think he feels the city of Auburn wants to be a host for one of these casinos.”
On May 31, Lattimore and the Seneca-Cayugas development partner, shopping mall magnate Thomas Wilmot Sr., met with Richard Rifkin, Spitzer's general counsel.
Lattimore said the meeting was positive. He doesn't see how the Seneca-Cayugas are not even able to have a place at the table.
“We're better off to sit down and negotiate a settlement so we get to live together,” Lattimore said. “I think that was Mr. Rifkin's point to us: we all have to learn to live together. I think we can do that. It's doable. You just can't wipe away Indian rights. The legal department of the Oklahomas indicates they have a legal right. There's no court, whether a Supreme Court or a local court that can dissolve an Indian land claim.”
Spicer said his tribe is still interested in building a casino and entertainment resort in Cayuga County.
“Mayor Lattimore sees the possibility and realizes we're a better partner,” Spicer said.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
He says it's an impossible deal because of treaty rights. “We would be the spoiler,” Spicer said.
But Cayugas have an ally in the state with their intention.
“We indicated support for the provision that precludes the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma securing lands into trust,” said Christine Pritchard, a spokeswoman for Gov. Eliot Spitzer
“What the Seneca-Cayugas get is nothing,” said Dan French, an attorney representing the Cayugas.
The Cayugas and the Seneca-Cayugas were partners in the land claim, but they have been on opposite sides of other litigation. The Cayugas came out against the Seneca-Cayugas' pitch last summer to site a casino in Auburn.
In November 2004, Clint Halftown said in a letter to Gov. George Pataki withdrawing from a settlement agreement in exchange for a Catskills casino: “While the Cayuga Nation is anxious to settle its 204-year-old illegal taking of land issue with New York state, it is unwilling to do so if out-of-state tribes are allowed a presence in New York.”
Auburn Mayor Tim Lattimore has spoken positively of the proposed settlement with the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York because of the possibility of settling a long-simmering issue and to bring lucrative gaming to the area. But he remains supportive of the Seneca-Cayugas, who would like to open a casino in Auburn.
“I hate to see bureaucrats or people in government debate how many angels can dance on a pin. This thing has to be resolved,” Lattimore said. “There's some disagreement with the Oklahomas being an in-state tribe but the only one who can establish a land claim area and the only one who can extinguish is Congress. I think Mr. (Charles) Schumer, our senator, would love to see this thing resolved. I think he feels the city of Auburn wants to be a host for one of these casinos.”
On May 31, Lattimore and the Seneca-Cayugas development partner, shopping mall magnate Thomas Wilmot Sr., met with Richard Rifkin, Spitzer's general counsel.
Lattimore said the meeting was positive. He doesn't see how the Seneca-Cayugas are not even able to have a place at the table.
“We're better off to sit down and negotiate a settlement so we get to live together,” Lattimore said. “I think that was Mr. Rifkin's point to us: we all have to learn to live together. I think we can do that. It's doable. You just can't wipe away Indian rights. The legal department of the Oklahomas indicates they have a legal right. There's no court, whether a Supreme Court or a local court that can dissolve an Indian land claim.”
Spicer said his tribe is still interested in building a casino and entertainment resort in Cayuga County.
“Mayor Lattimore sees the possibility and realizes we're a better partner,” Spicer said.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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